Radio apparatus



Sept. 13, 1938. J. A. ELDER RADIO APPARATUS Filed Sept. l5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v JOHN A. ELDER ATTOR EY Sept. 13, 1938. J. A. ELDER RADIO APPARATUS Filed sept. 15, 1936l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NVENTOR JOHN A.ELDER Septe 13, 1938. A, ELDER 2,129,756

RADIO APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 w INVENTOR Jo/1N AEL DER BY M7 am ATTO NEY Sept, 13, 1938. A. ELDER l 2,129,756

RADIO APPARATUS Filed Sept. l5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTR A .JOHN A. ELDER BY 740m ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to radio apparatus of the type adapted to operate in different Wave length bands. monly employs a plurality of hand switches for Radio apparatus of this type comthrowing into the circuit the proper coils for receiving on the particular wave lengths desired. The primary object of my invention is the production of an all-Wave tuning instrument through Which continuous tuning of a radio circuit tuning member and means is interposed between such member and the condenser for operating the condenser at tuning speed during its passage through the tuning portion of each cycle and a relatively higher speed through the remaining portion of each cycle and to the starting position of the next cycle.

The circuit provides a different wave length band for each such cycle and, in accordance with another feature of the invention, switch mechanism is p-rovided for automatically cutting in the -proper coils during the said relatively high speed portion of each cycle. Thus the apparatus is adapted to operate through different wave length bands from a single tuning member, the proper connections being automatically made during the non-tuning portion of each cycle of operation of the condenser.

The

apparatus permits tuning to any desired means for indicating such bands but also a second tuning member, preferably geared to the first tuning member whereby the apparatus may be moved rapidly to any desired wave band or tuning position, the slower tuning member being thereafter employed to tune the apparatus Within such band.

While the invention pertains more particularly to short wave radio, it is also applicable to use in combined short and long wave radio apparatus. In accordance with another feature of the invention, means are provided for so connecting a second and long wave condenser with the condenser heretofore referred to that the second condenser will automatically be brought into action for tuning from the said tuning member at a predetermined point in the movement of the apparatus, it being understood that the tuning member moves the condenser or condensers through a plurality of cycles and that the said second condenser may be included in one of such cycles.

Another feature of the invention com- (Cl. Z50-40) prises stop mechanism for stopping the operation of the tuning mechanism at both ends of the tuning capacity of the apparatus.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is an end View of the rear condenser,

Fig. 4 is a view of the forward condenser, taken on the line 4-01 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through the switch mechanism, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a rear exploded view of a portion of the apparatus,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a clutch mechanism between the condenser shafts,

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan View of the stop mechanism,

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken on line |2--I2 of Fig. 1l.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, Ill indicates the front panel and l2 the rear panel on which the apparatus is mounted, the panels being secured together in spaced relation by suitable studs. Mounted on and rearwardly of the rear panel is a condenser Vlll and further rearwardly and in alignment therewith '-i' is mounted a second con-denser l5, the second condenser being normally disengaged from the first condenser as hereinafter described. The movable plates of the first condenser are mounted on a shaft i6 extending into the space between the two panels. The shaft I6 is operated from a tuning member I8 through mechanism now to be described.

The tuning member I8 is fixed to the outer end of a shaft I9 having a pinion 20 on its inner The arrangement is such l of the condenser rotation. Thus while the gears 24 and 25 are in mesh the condenser is in the tuning portion of its cycle and is operated at tuning speed from the member I8. At the end of such tuning movement in either direction, the gears 24, 25 unmesh and the elements 26-28 come into engagement whereupon continued rctation of the member I8 continues movement of the condenser at a rapid rate through approximately 180 to the tuning position whereupon the gears 24 and 25 again come into mesh.

The apparatus is adapted to operate in and through different wave length bands in the suc cessive passages of the condenser through the tuning portion of its path under the action of the tuning member I8 and the mechanism above described. Switch mechanism is provided for adjusting the apparatus to its different wave length bands whereby to cut the proper coils into the circuit as is well understood in the art. these switches heretofore being ordinarily operated by hand. In accordance with my invention, this switch mechanism is operated automatically during the non-tuning portion of the condenser movement under the action of the elements 2li- 28. This switch mechanism is contained within a switch box carried by the rear panel I2 and includes a plurality of cooperating contacts 32, 33, 34, and 36 on three walls of the switch box. A block slidable within the box 30 carries three contact elements 42 arranged to cooperate with the three series of contacts on the correspondingr walls of the box. Pins 43 position the contact elements on the block and springs 44 urge the elements 42 outwardly.

The switch block 40 is connected by means of an adjusting screw 45 to a rack 48 having a series of recesses 49 therein, and a tooth 50 fixed to the shaft I6 is adapted to cooperate with these recesses. The arrangement is such that at each rotation of the shaft I6 the tooth 5U engages within a recess 49 and shifts the block 40 a distance corresponding to the adjacent spacing of the contacts 32-36. 'I'he arrangement is also such that this shifting of the block 40 takes place during the high speed and non-tuning movement of the shaft I6. Thus while the condenser is being moved from one tuning cycle to the next adjacent tuning cycle the switch mechanism automatically cuts in the proper coils for the sucneeding wave length band.

An endless index band 52 is provided between the panels for indicating the tuning position of the condenser, this band being viewed through a window 54 in the front panel. The band is supported on rollers 55 and 56 and the latter is mounted on a shaft 51 carrying a gear 58. The gear 5B is in mesh with an idler gear 59 adapted to mesh with a gear segment on the shaft I6. The segment 6I! is of an arcuate size and so arranged that it meshes with the gea-r 59 only during the tuning portion of the shaft movement and not during the rapid and non-tuning movement thereof. Thus the band is moved in one direction or the other synchronously with the tuning movement of the condenser.

It may frequently be desired to adjust the apparatus from one wave length band to a relatively distant band and such adjustment may be conveniently accomplished through the use of a second and higher geared tuning member G2 cooperating with the tuning member I8. The member 62 is fixed to a tubular shaft 63 rotatable on the shaft I9 and carrying a gear 64 in mesh with a gear 65 on the shaft 22. The gearing 64--65 is of such ratio that the mechanism can be rapidly adjusted to the different Wave length bands through the agency of the member 62.

Another feature of the invention comprises a stop mechanism for stopping the rotary train after a predetermined number of passages of the rotary portion of the condenser through its tuning arc. This mechanism comprises a threaded shaft 68 supported rotatably at its ends in the two panels and having a nut 69 threaded thereonto and held against rotation by a flat thereon engaging against a bracket 1D. A gear 12 fixed to the threaded shaft is in mesh with the pinion 20. Thus the shaft 68 is rotated from the tuning member I8 and traverses the nut along the shaft 68. The arrangement is such that the axial travel of the nut in both directions determines the extent of movement permitted to the rotary train,

The movable plates 'I4 of the condenser E5 are carried by a shaft 'I5 which is normally disengaged from rotation with the shaft I6, a clutch (Fig. 7) being `provided for rotating the shaft 'I5 from the shaft I6 during the last cycle rotation of the shaft I5. A block I6 is supported in fixed position on brockets 'I8 and one end of the shaft I6 is supported for rotation on a collar 'I9 fitting within a bore 88 in this block, ball bearings BI being provided between the block and a plate 82 on the shaft. threaded to the extreme end portion 85 of the shaft and a pin 86 carried on the inner end of a stud 88 threaded in the block engages a slot in the nut and normally prevents its rotation with the shaft. end fitting within the bore and this head and the nut 84 have cooperating clutch faces adapted to engage at a predetermined point in the movement of the rotary train whereby driving the shaft 15 from the shaft I6, the end of the shaft I6 being rotatably seated within the end of the head 89.

The shaft portion is slotted at 9D and a `member 9| is threaded into a bore at the inner end of such slot and is anchored therein by upi setting the end of the shaft over the head 92 of the member. 'I'he shape of the member is such as to provide transverse passages for a Uwshaped detent 93 at opposite sides of the outer nonthreaded portion of the member and a spring 94 resting on the member normally urges the detent radially outward.

In the initial position of the apparatus the nut 84 substantially abuts against the collar 'I9 and during the first four cycles of rotation of the shaft I6 the condenser I4 is rotated and the nut 84 is traversed rearwardly (to the right in Fig. 7), the shaft 15 remaining idle. At each rotation of the shaft I6 the detent 93 snaps into and out of a shallow depression 96 in the nut. The parts are so arranged that, when the detent snaps into the depression at the beginning of the fifth cycle, the nut clears the pin 86 and the clutch faces on the nut 84 and head 89 come into engagement. At such time continued rotation of the shaft I6 carries the shaft 15 therewith and therefore operates the condenser I5, it being understood that at such time the switch mechanism has automatically cut the circuit into this condenser. When the rotary train is operated in reverse direction the shaft I5 is reversely rotated until the clutch faces disengage and the pin 86 again engages the nut to prevent its rotation.

Having thus described my invention, what I A nut 84 within the bore is The shaft 'I5 has a head 89 at its forward y claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,-

1. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in different wave length bands, a tuning member, a variable condenser, means providing an operative connection from the member to the movable portion of the condenser for moving the latter from a starting position through a predetermined tuning path at a given speed ratio, other means connected to the tuning member for moving said portion of the condenser through another path to said starting position at a relatively faster speed ratio, and means to make the first-mentioned means operate only through the first-named path and said other means operate through the secondnamed path.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, plus switch mechanism, and operative connections between such mechanism and the tuning member for automatically shifting such mechanism between successive passages of said movable portion of the condenser through said tuning path.

3. The combination dened in claim 1, plus an index member, and means for automatically moving the index member synchronously with the tuning member during movement of said movable portion of the condenser through said tuning path but not during movement thereof through said other path.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, plus a second variable condenser, and means for operatively connecting the movable portion thereof to the tuning member automatically at a predetermined stage in the operation of said movable portion.

5. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in diiferent wave length bands, a rotary tuning member, a variable condenser, means providing an operative connection from the member to the rotary portion of the condenser for rotating the latter from a starting position through a predetermined tuning arc at a given speed ratio, other means connected to the tuning member for rotating said portion of the condenser beyond said arc to said starting position at a faster speed ratio, and means to make the first-mentioned means operate only through said arc and said other means operate only outside of said arc.

6. The combination dened in claim 5, plus means operatively connected to the tuning member to stop the same after a predetermined number of passages of the rotary portion of the condenser through said arc in either direction.

7. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in different wave length bands, a rotary tuning member, a variable condenser, means including an interrupted gear providing an operative connection between the member and the rotary portion of the condenser for rotating the condenser through a predetermined tuning arc at a given speed ratio, other means providing a relatively faster speed ratio connection between the member and the rotary portion of the condenser for quickly rotating the condenser through the remaining portion of its rotary path outside of said arc, means causing the interrupted gear and said other means always to rotate the condenser through said tuning arc and outside of said are respectively, switch mechanism, and means connected to the tuning member for automatically shifting such mechanism during movement of the condenser through said remaining portion of its path.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, plus a second variable condenser coaxial with the first condenser, and means for operatively connecting the movable portion thereof to the movable portion of the first condenser automatically at a predetermined point in the movement of the apparatus.

9. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in different wave length bands, a rotary tuning member, a variable condenser, a shaft connected to the rotary portion of the condenser, a second shaft parallel therewith and operatively connected to the tuning member, cooperating interrupted gearing fixed to the shafts for rotating the condenser through a predetermined tuning arc at a given speed ratio, other cooperating means fixed to the shafts and providing a relatively faster speed ratio connection between the shafts for quickly rotating the condenser through the remaining portion of its rotary path outside of said arc, and means to make said cooperating interrupted gearing operate only through said arc and said other cooperating means operate only outside of said arc.

10. The combination defined in claim 9, plus switch mechanism, and means carried by the first-named shaft for automatically shifting such mechanism during said quick movement of the condenser.

11. The combination defined in claim 9, plus a second variable condenser coaxial with the first condenser, and means automatically connecting the rotary portion of the second condenser to the rotary portion of the first condenser after a predetermined number of rotations of the first condenser in one direction.

12. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in diiferent wave length bands, a tuning member, a variable condenser, means providing an operative connection from the member to the movable portion of the condenser for moving the latter through a predetermined tuning path in successive stages, a switch box having a plurality of contacts, a switch block slidable within the box and having contact elements for cooperating with the contacts and adapted to connect different contacts when the block is shifted to different positions, a rack connected to the block, and means connected to the tuning member and operative on the rack for automatically shifting the block between successive passages of said movable portion of the condenser through said tuning path.

13. In a radio apparatus adapted to operate in different wave length bands, a tuning member, a variable condenser, means providing an operative connection from the member to the movable portion of the condenser for moving the latter through a predetermined tuning path in successive stages, a rectangular switch box having contacts on the inner faces of three walls thereof, a switch block slidable within the box and having contact elements on three sides thereof adapted respectively to cooperate with the contacts of said three walls and adapted to connect different contacts when the block is shifted to different positions, and operative connections between the tuning member and the block for automatically shifting the block between successive passages of said movable portion of the condenser through said tuning path.

JOI-IN A. ELDER. 

